Final day of PGA practice round draws big crowds to Oak Hill

By NATE DOUGHERTY - 8/7/2013 5:24:40 PM

The final practice round before the 2013 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford took place Wednesday, as golfers took their last opportunity to get used to the course before action starts on Thursday.

The practice round drew large crowds to Oak Hill, and golfers such as defending champion Rory McIlroy stopped to talk to fans and sign autographs. In a media session following his round, McIlroy said it has been incredible to see the fan turnout in the lead-up to the final major of 2013.

McIlroy said he has many good memories to draw on from his 2012 PGA Championship win, adding that "defending a major title is not something you get to do very often."

The event comes with many other storylines. As McIlroy looks to defend his title, Shaun Micheel will try to follow up his only PGA Tour title at Oak Hill Country club 10 years ago, and Tiger Woods will try to win his first major since 2008.

All three will be vying for the title when the tournament kicks off in Pittsford on Thursday. On Tuesday, Woods praised the grounds at Oak Hill, saying the grounds were in "fantastic shape."

Wednesday also saw the local organizations cashing in off the attention the PGA has brought. The PGA of America Spouses and PGA Tour Wives Association came together with volunteers from Oak Hill Country for an event to benefit Flower City Habitat for Humanity.

More than 100 volunteers came together in the city's Josana neighborhood to build a four-bedroom home for a local family.